Revista Médica del Uruguay versión impresa ISSN 0303-3295 versión On-line ISSN 1688-0390 Resumen
MOREIRA, Eduardo et al. Assessment of consultation triggers to optimize the opportunity to access palliative care in the ICU.
Rev. Méd. Urug. [online]. 2021, vol.37, n.1, e204. Epub 01-Mar-2021. ISSN 0303-3295. https://doi.org/10.29193/rmu.37.1.4.
Introduction:
palliative care (PC) constitutes a marker of the quality of intensive care assistance. However, it has not been thoroughly assessed in Uruguay. Proactive detection of patients by means of “consultation triggers” should be considered a strategy to optimize access to PC.
Objetives:
to determine the prevalence and characteristics of Palliative Care consultation triggers in critical patients. To analyse the use of resources in these patients.
Method:
retrospective cohort study of patients admitted in the ICU between March 2016 and February 2019. The following triggers were identified: a) a tumor with metastasis; length of stay at the ICU 50% over the average (14 days), c) >75 years old with multiple organic dysfunction and d) >80 years old with 2 or more severe comorbidities
Results: 2.850 patients were analysed. 26% (734) presented at least one consultation trigger with PC. Length of stay at the ICU 50% over average (18%). These patients presented higher average age 61 (43-75) versus 54 (36-65) years old (p < 0.001), and increased severity, SAPSIII of 60 (48-74) compared to 47 (35-61) points (p<0.001); 87% required mechanical ventilation compared to 55% (p <0.001), vasopressors 48% compared to 24% (p< 0.001) and hemodialysis 8% compared to 4% (p<0.001). 18 presented a longer stay (9-27) compared to 4 (2-8) days, (p<0.001) and time on mechanical ventilation 14 (7-23) compared to 3 (1- 6) days (p<0.001).
Conclusions:
25 percent of patients in the ICU activated at least one criterion for PC, they were in a more severe condition and used more mechanical ventilation.
Palabras clave : Critical care; Palliative care; Query trigger valuation.


Inspired by his views of Monterey Bay, California from his new studio, Kajahl brings to life his striking vision of a fictional aquatic world for his latest solo exhibition. As his second solo show at the Monique Meloche Gallery, “Submersia” explores this world’s ecosystem through eight oil paintings, taking the viewer from the shifting currents of the ocean’s surface to the dense sands of the oceanic floor. Within this boundless world, teeming with mythical water beings, Kajahl imagines how an artifact might live to outgrow its original meaning and conveys what it looks like for cultural relics to take on new life.
In the world of “Submersia,” viewers observe two kinds of fictional creatures—Oceandwellers and Iceberg Entities. Aptly named by Kajahl himself, their names allude to their characteristic qualities. Iceberg Entities resemble icebergs that drift in the sea, and Oceandwellers reside on the ocean floor, completely submerged underwater. Both species resemble Greco-Roman artifacts that imitate the likeness of people from Sub-Saharan Africa, possessing features stereotypically associated with African people, including wide noses, full lips and deep set eyes.
However, this is where the similarities between the two species end. While Oceandwellers are the embodiment of renewed life, Iceberg Entities represent artifacts in the state of decay. While studying the Oceandwellers, I wonder if, in this fictional world, the bottom of the sea was meant to be their final resting place, discarded by their previous owners, but regardless of where they came from, these creatures have come to belong in their surroundings. Like the organisms that share their habitat, Oceandwellers breathe the water around them, depicted by bubbles and plumes of air that escape their mouths. In addition, erosion changes the textures of Oceandwellers’ original materials to resemble the textures found in deep sea environments, such as in “Underwater Exhale” (2022), where the Oceandwellers’ mottled surface is reminiscent of the coral’s deep grooves.
In contrast, the Entities exemplify stages of thawing, with jagged cracks and sheen from melting ice appearing across the ice being’s body. In “Iceberg Entity II (Glacial Fracture Head)” (2022), ruptures from this Entity’s past can be seen between the now-frozen shards of ice making up its top half, but in “Iceberg Entity IV (Cracked Head Thawing)” (2022), water runs down the Entity’s frozen chest in long, round drops. Though we bear witness to this species’ imminent disintegration, the Entities still retain a stately presence. Above the thick waterline, the strong-shouldered beings hold the viewer’s gaze firmly, and beneath the water’s surface, a light-blue glow surrounds each Entity’s bottom half.
Using the properties of water, the artist skillfully conveys that these artifacts are not limited by their physical impermanence. Kajahl illustrates water not only as a liquid, but in all its states. Sentient icebergs melt into the water then evaporate into the clouds that replenish the ocean the Oceandwellers breathe. When exposed to the passage of time, Kajahl’s artifacts adopt new forms but never lose their essence. Their significance lies in their impact, which, like water, is far-reaching and allows them to have life beyond their initial purpose.
Kajahl’s “Submersia” at Monique Meloche Gallery, 451 North Paulina. Through January 7, 2023.


After multiple information requests and lawsuits from auto safety groups, Nissan revealed that it was aware of 1,400 reports on the Nissan Rogue’s faulty Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) systems.
The AEB systems installed in 2017–2018 Nissan Rogue vehicles would randomly brake, even if there were no obstacles in front of the vehicles. Sometimes, the Nissan Rogue vehicles would inadvertently brake on railroad tracks.
Nissan revealed its knowledge of the 1,400 reports after the Center for Auto Safety filed a Freedom of Information Act request and appeal, and subsequently sued Nissan multiple times, according to the Center’s press release.
The Center had filed a March 2019 petition to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Nissan’s faulty AEB systems.
The petition was based on 87 complaints. Six months later, NHTSA revealed 800 complaints on the AEB systems’ false activation.
Nissan issued a service campaign on August 2019, which Nissan claims resulted in a 50% repair rate. However, the Center criticized the service campaign on the basis that the automaker can charge for repairs under a service campaign, there is no notification requirement for automakers to consumers, and automakers are not required to keep long-term reports of repair rates.


For a victim suffering from Sudden Cardiac Arrest, the life-saving shock from an AED is essential. However, the importance of CPR to the outcome cannot be understated. Almost 90 percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. CPR, especially if performed in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, can double or triple a person's chance of survival (source: American Heart Association). AED.US believes that AEDs with CPR coaching features can offer SCA victims the best chance for survival. All AED.US Team Members carry these AEDs from Cardiac Science, Heartsine and ZOLL in their vehicles and have them placed in their homes.


Alabama ranks near the bottom in levels of patriotism, according to a recent nationwide report on patriotic feelings and actions among American citizens.
The analysis, conducted by WalletHub, evaluated levels of military and civic engagement through 13 relevant metrics, including average military enlistees per 1,000 civilian adults and shares of residents who participate in groups or organizations, to determine levels of patriotic sentiments in U.S States.
The analysis places Alabama at No. 43, below bordering states Tennessee, Georgia, and Mississippi, but ahead of Florida, which placed 47, according to the study.
Alabama does place among the top five states with the highest average of military enlistees, the analysis shows, but is ranked among the five lowest states for percentages of adults who voted in the 2020 presidential election and the lowest for Peace Corps volunteers per capita.
The analysis also suggests that political blue states fair higher in average levels of patriotic sentiments than red states, despite three out of the five highest-ranked states for patriotism — Alaska, Montana, and North Dakota –being definitive red states.
In a separate study conducted by Wise Voters this year, Alabama was positioned in the lower half of states for women in politics and last overall for women in the United States.


Investing in understanding Yemen’s local conflict drivers and integrating this knowledge into peacebuilding and stabilization efforts is central to addressing the complexity that characterizes and feeds the ongoing crisis.
Six years into the Yemen conflict, the war shows no sign of abating. The situation is dire: 80% of Yemen’s population of 30 million requires some form of humanitarian assistance; nearly half the population is in acute need. With violence spilling across Yemen’s borders and threatening maritime security in the Red Sea’s strategically important Bab el-Mandab Strait, regional stability is at risk.
Two years since the Stockholm Agreement — an UN-brokered agreement aiming to build confidence among the warring parties through targeted ceasefires and prisoner exchanges — international peace efforts remain fragile and halting. A deadly attack on a newly formed “unity” government that brought rival Saudi- and UAE-backed factions together has once again upended hopes for stabilizing the conflict.
Chemonics International’s Ahmed Al Khameri has dedicated his career to supporting the peace and development of his native Yemen. Ahmed discusses how investing in understanding local drivers of conflict and integrating this knowledge into peacebuilding and stabilization efforts is central to addressing the complexity that characterizes and feeds the ongoing crisis.
Why is there war in Yemen?
Yemen’s war is often viewed as a clash between the Zaydi Shia movement Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, based in northern Yemen and an alliance of actors spread across southern, western, and eastern Yemen. With Iran supporting Ansar Allah and a Saudi-led international coalition backing the alliance, commentators often cast the crisis as a proxy war.
In reality, a blend of regional competition and local conflict over power and wealth drive the war. Yemen’s conflict is a multi-layered and complicated power struggle that reflects historical grievances over political and economic exclusion as much as current domestic and regional politics. Amid ongoing instability, longstanding sectarian, tribal, and provincial tensions have come to the fore, generating sub-conflicts within the principal warring factions, complicating international efforts to stop the war.
How has the war affected local communities?
The conflict has devastated local communities. The cultural and religious factors that color the war manifest themselves at the local level, igniting conflicts within formerly unified communities by highlighting differences in values, beliefs, and interests. For example, Ansar Allah redesigned the educational curriculum, flaring local tensions along religious lines.
The conflict is damaging Yemen’s social fabric. Already marginalized groups like people with disabilities, Muhamasheen populations (a visible Black-Yemeni minority who suffer from caste-based discrimination), internally displaced people, and Ethiopian and Somalian migrants often experience multiple rounds of displacement and fall victim to violence and injustice. As this social and cultural fallout continues, women and children bear the brunt of a sharp uptick in domestic violence.
Have peace talks worked?
There have been two major efforts to stem the conflict: the Stockholm Agreement in 2018 and the Riyadh Agreement in 2019.
The Stockholm Agreement saved the city of Hudaydah from imminent conflict. The Riyadh Agreement has helped reconcile differences between different factions of the government of Yemen. In December 2020, the government announced a new cabinet with representatives from different factions.
To date, national peace talks have not, however, reduced the level of violence. Clashes have increased. Conflicting parties are failing to seize the opportunities presented by the agreements. A recent attack on Aden Airport, which appeared to target members of the new “unity” government, has further complicated peace efforts.
How can peace talks perform better?
International peace efforts must broaden the aperture for participation. To date, internationally sponsored talks have not incorporated the full array of Yemeni stakeholders. Nor have the various armed groups been sufficiently brought into discussions.
For mediators, inclusion can be a double-edged sword: bringing many actors to the table can reduce the chance of securing a peace deal, but, reaching an agreement based on a narrow set of interests also risks failure. A narrowly defined deal may not reflect evolving realities on the ground, complicating efforts to foster local ownership.
Yemen’s challenge is to enable a peace process and deliver peacebuilding interventions that encourage buy-in from the ground up. Of course, creating a genuinely inclusive process is difficult. It requires addressing a diversity of actors and interests operating at national and sub-national levels. However, demonstrated international commitment to supporting inclusive processes could become an incentive for collaboration among conflicting parties. A genuinely inclusive peace process will help build the trust necessary for a representative and functional Yemeni government to form.
How can international efforts better support peacebuilding?
Five years of conflict, fragmentation, and autonomy have shifted power to the local level. The lack of a common understanding between mediators and donors on the nature of local conflict, and its impact on national dynamics, limits peacebuilding efforts. To reflect the splintered nature of the war, peace talks must recognize local conflict dynamics.
A rigorous and systemic understanding of different actor’s motivations for engaging in violent and peaceful behavior must act as the foundation for peacebuilding initiatives. International donors can support the peacebuilding process by researching different group’s positions, interests, and demands. This information will allow mediators to identify evidence-based solutions to peacebuilding stumbling blocks.
Mapping out the drivers of conflict uncovers what issues sustain the conflict. Equipped with a better understanding of the conflict landscape, mediators can identify effective entry points for peacebuilding interventions to support local stability and increase local buy-in for agreements.
Building a shared understanding of conflict drivers within the international community will allow actors to better integrate insights into stabilization, humanitarian, and development efforts. Improving and harmonizing knowledge will also help ensure that humanitarian, development, and peace efforts complement one another.
*Banner photo caption: A woman walks down a road in Sanaa, Yemen. Posts on the blog represent the views of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Chemonics.


What is life coaching? From the positive perspective, it is a partnership between a coach and a client wherein the client explores:
what they want opportunities options for new possibilities strategies for moving forward action planning a method for accountability awareness for celebrating progress and success along the way
The coach serves as a strategic partner and serves by listening, asking questions, and partnering for the accountability the client chooses.
The focus of the coaching varies widely and just a few examples of niche areas include:
Work / Life Balance ADHD Legacy Relationships Personal Awareness Confidence Self-actualization
Coaches often have focus areas or niches which then lend themselves to expertise in terms of approach and awareness. Clients enter coaching with a sense of their own reasons for engaging a life coach. Together, the coach and the client define the coaching relationship and the process.
On the negative side, some well-intentioned individuals who lack effective training as coaches function in the role of an advisor or worse, an unlicensed counselor or therapist even though they title themselves as a coach.
As a coach, ensure you have the appropriate training, the Code of Ethics (published by the International Coaching Federation, the ICF), and that you develop the Core Competencies (also developed by the ICF).
As a client, ask prospective coaches about their training, whether they subscribe to the ICF Code of Ethics, and about their experience.


On the surface, customer experience (CX) seems like an intangible concept. Even industry experts agree that emotions are the heart of experiences. Still, experts concur that establishing a CX metrics program is vitally essential for lasting success.
A solid CX measurement framework lets your company know how well you are performing with your customers. However, there are several dimensions of customer experience, each with their own measurement parameters:
Customer Transactions– A specific exchange between a customer and frontline representative—such as a call to a contact center or home visit by a field service technician. Typically, companies seek feedback on interactions shortly after they take place. Customer Journeys– A series of experiences that add up to a single larger outcome, such as taking a flight or making a major purchase. Organizations often seek feedback soon after the culmination of a journey experience. Customer Relationships– A customer’s overall experience with a brand, which can include multiple, distinct interactions or journeys. Companies may seek periodic relationship feedback from customers—typically no more than two to four times per year.
As a result of the multi-faceted nature of the customer experience, creating a CX metrics program can be a challenge. With awareness of common pitfalls companies face and a disciplined approach, you can create the right metrics framework for you company.
Two Ways CX Metrics Programs Often Falter
Creating a survey program is a usual first step for any company that has embarked on CX initiatives. Surveys provide valuable feedback from customers about their experiences—so it would seem like these companies have made progress. They have – but if their CX measurement programs lack consistency or don’t drive action—they may find their CX efforts stagnating.
1. Lack of Consistency
In the early days of a CX program, companies may have an inconsistent approach to feedback gathering.
They may use different surveys—with different questions—across various customer-facing units. And those departments may keep results to themselves instead of communicating them with leaders or peers. Also, companies in this stage often haven’t settled on company-wide CX metrics that highlight a consistent view of customer experiences across different segments of the frontline operation.
This siloed approach prevents companies from gaining actionable, company-wide insight about customer perceptions.
2. Lack of Action
Over time, companies typically evolve to a more streamlined CX metrics practice. They do a better job of collecting consistent metrics across the service footprint, perform analytics, and use reporting and dashboards to keep leaders informed. In addition, they may be successful at sharing feedback with team members to ensure that the customer experience stays top-of-mind.
Despite this success in feedback gathering and analysis, they may still struggle with selecting key performance indicators (KPIs) that tie CX feedback to concrete actions to improve customer experiences. Often, organizations facing these problems may not have secured the full leadership buy-in and funding support they need to advance their CX program performance.
To overcome these hurdles, organizations can adopt a more disciplined approach to their CX metrics program.
Seven Essential Questions to Answer for CX Metrics Success
After dubbing the current business environment “The Age of the Customer,” analyst firm Forrester has put great emphasis on evaluating organizations’ CX practices. They’ve found that more than 80% of companies aspire to be a CX leader, but less than 20% have best-in-class CX programs.
Another key Forrester finding: CX measurement programs are lagging. Thirty-nine (39%) of surveyed companies don’t regularly seek feedback from customers—and 72% don’t tie CX data to business outcomes.
To help firms elevate their programs, Forrester created a seven-step model for CX metrics success:
Image Source: Forrester
Following this approach, companies need to ask—and answer—seven core questions as they progress their CX measurement programs:
Which customer segments are we going to analyze?When designing or re-engineering a measurement program, companies may need to target high-priority customer segments. These can include those with high profitability or growth potential. Which experiences do we want to measure?A comprehensive measurement program will measure interactions, journeys, and relationships. However, Forrester advises companies should focus on measuring interactions and journeys first for the most tangible insight. What CX metrics will we use to evaluate each type of experience?Companies will need to select metrics that evaluate the quality of each experience, along with metrics that can influence critical business decisions. How are we going to collect feedback?After defining the purpose and focus of their feedback gathering efforts, companies need to focus on the mechanics of collecting customer insight. They need to select communications channels, design surveys, and optimize survey timing to maximize response rates. What is our current baseline—and goal—for each experience category?Companies need to understand their current level of performance—and then set achievable goals for where they want to be. What issues are we identifying through CX feedback-and how can we fix them?To make CX gains, companies need processes that identify customer-specific concerns and systemic issues. They need closed-loop alerting practices that charge managers with responsibility for resolving issues raised by unhappy customers, along with action planning to address any longer-term negative trends. How can we share CX feedback throughout our organization?Best-in-class companies share customer feedback regularly—and broadly. They communicate to CX stakeholders and frontline teams to keep the entire organization focused on customers.
Answering these seven questions can help companies design a successful CX measurement program and avoid common pitfalls.
Why a Disciplined CX Metrics Program Matters
Although most CX programs collect customer insight through surveys, turning this feedback into meaningful metrics and action doesn’t always occur. In fact, research from CX think tank Temkin Group revealed that just 11% of surveyed companies received a “very strong” or “strong” ratings for their CX measurement programs.
Image Source: Temkin Group
Another important finding from the Temkin research: only 10% of companies use metrics when making day-to-day business decisions. Yet, those with stronger CX metrics programs deliver higher-quality customer experiences.
Understanding how measurement programs falter—and how to adopt a disciplined approach—can help companies accelerate their CX initiatives. By building consistency into CX feedback gathering across the company and empowering support groups to take action, companies can move their CX metrics programs forward. They can make CX metrics more visible throughout the organization, align key decisions with customer feedback, and ultimately strengthen customer relationships.
Author: Connie Harrington
Connie is a content strategist and serves as managing editor of the eTouchPoint blog. Possessing 15+ years of international experience across five continents, her focus areas include: customer experience management, customer contact management, communications planning, content marketing, email marketing, and employee engagement. Previously, she held marketing and communications leadership positions at CGI, Mindwrap, and TEOCO. She earned a B.A., cum laude, from the College of William and Mary in Virginia.


Identifying goals, roles and tasks of extended scope physiotherapy in Dutch primary care- an exploratory, qualitative multi-step study Summary
Background: Rising healthcare costs, an increasing general practitioner shortage and an aging population have made healthcare organization transformation a priority. To meet these challenges, traditional roles of non-medical members have been reconsidered. Within the domain of physiotherapy, there has been significant interest in Extended Scope Physiotherapy (ESP). Although studies have focused on the perceptions of different stakeholders in relation to ESP, there is a large variety in the interpretation of ESP. Aim: To identify a paradigm of ESP incorporating goals, roles and tasks, to provide a consistent approach for the implementation of ESP in primary care. Methods: An exploratory, qualitative multi-step design was used containing a scoping review, focus groups and semi-structured interviews. The study population consisted of patients, physiotherapists, general practitioners and indirect stakeholders such as lecturers, health insurers and policymakers related to primary care physiotherapy. The main topics discussed in the focus groups and semi-structured interviews were the goals, skills and roles affiliated with ESP. The ‘framework’ method, developed by Ritchie & Spencer, was used as analytical approach to refine the framework. Results: Two focus groups and twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore stakeholder perspectives on ESP in Dutch primary care. A total of 11 physiotherapists, six general practitioners, five patients and four indirect stakeholders participated in the study. There was a lot of support for ‘decreasing healthcare costs’, ‘tackling increased health demand’ and ‘improving healthcare effectiveness’ as main goals of ESP. The most agreement was reached on ‘triaging’, ‘referring to specialists’ and ‘ordering diagnostic imaging’ as tasks fitting for ESP. Most stakeholders also supported ‘working in a multidisciplinary team’, ‘working as a consultant’ and ‘an ESP role separated from a physiotherapist role’ as roles of ESP. Conclusions: Based on the scoping review, focus groups and interviews with direct and indirect stakeholders, it appears that there is sufficient support for ESP in the Netherlands. This study provides a clear presentation of how ESP can be conceptualized in primary care. A pilot focused on determining the feasibility of ESP in Dutch primary care will be the next step.
Language English Published in BMC Health Services Research Key words physical therapy modalities, extended scope, multi-step design, primary health care Digital Object Identifier https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05986-w


According to the Oceanic Society, between 6,000 and 14,000 tons of sunscreen wash off into coral reef habitats every year. Many of the chemicals found in conventional sunscreens can contribute to the bleaching of these reefs, essentially killing them and their surrounding ecosystem. Choosing a reef-friendly sunscreen for your family will help protect our oceans and the wildlife that lives in them.
Guidelines for Reef-Friendly Suncare: Avoid these chemical ingredients: any form of microplastic spheres or beads, any nanoparticles like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, octocrylene, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, butyl paraben, benzyl paraben, and triclosan Choose mineral or inorganic sunscreens like non-nano zinc oxide or titanium oxide that cannot be absorbed by the corals Our Picks: Sources: Oceanic Society and Haereticus Environmental Laboratory


Abstract SARS-CoV-2 viral load and detection of infectious virus in...Leer más
Summary What is already known about this topic?
COVID-19 can cause severe illness in children. Children aged 5–11 years became eligible for COVID-19 vaccination on November 2, 2021.
What is added by this report?
During the period of Omicron predominance (December 19, 2021–February 28, 2022), COVID-19–associated hospitalization rates in children aged 5–11 years were approximately twice as high among unvaccinated as among vaccinated children. Non-Hispanic Black children represented the largest group of unvaccinated children. Thirty percent of hospitalized children had no underlying medical conditions, and 19% were admitted to an intensive care unit. Children with diabetes and obesity were more likely to experience severe COVID-19.
What are the implications for public health practice?
Increasing COVID-19 vaccination coverage among children aged 5–11 years, particularly among racial and ethnic minority groups disproportionately affected by COVID-19, can prevent COVID-19–associated hospitalization and severe outcomes.
Créditos: Comité científico Covid


Thinking of ways to counter the latest coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic isn’t an simple thing. Solutions to flatten the curve are constantly debated as cases gradually increase over time.
Cooperation between the National Government, Local Government Units (LGUs), and various local authorities implementing precautionary public safety measures is a huge step. Nonetheless, further studies, medical tests, and test kits are required to see a reduction in positive cases in the region.
In its response to COVID-19, the University of the Philippines (UP) initially released test kits which the government has approved for mass testing. Recently, EndCOV.ph was launched by UP’s Resilience Center and National Operational Assessment of Hazards — a website that displays critical details about the country’s current pandemic situation.
The dashboard provides an summary of the country’s current situation with COVID-19 events. Additionally, the website shows other COVID-19 relevant pages such as latest advisories, policies, tools, list of COVID-19 hospitals, ISKOnsult (symptom checker), charts and patient profiles.
A list of admitted patients including their current status is listed under the cases tab. By pressing the information button, a detailed report of the patient will be shown, containing the nationality of the patient, the status, the hospital he / she was admitted to, the date the virus was contracted, its type of transmission, official confirmation of any local agency, symptoms, travel history and potential connections.
This new creation of health information will surely help the country to monitor the updates from the pandemic virus.
May it serve as a helping tool for everyone.
Great job for UP!


This course explores the evolving influence of social media and digital platforms in marketing, advertising, organizations, and society. Students examine how traditional marketing, advertising, and public relations strategies often fail with digitally empowered consumers. Through theory, practice, and case studies students identify a strategic process for integrating social media into marketing, advertising, public relations and other business operations.
Specific strategies for monitoring and engaging will be used while students investigate how to apply digital channels to help meet real business objectives. A series of assignments build upon each other toward a final digital marketing plan report and presentation for a product, service, or organization.


As cloud architecture spelled an end to the “walled fortress” security model, the rapid transition to a remote workforce has accelerated the demise of perimeter defenses.
Organizations have been forced to rethink their approach to network access, and reimagine the fundamentals of user management, endpoint security, and access control. This demands transitioning away from a technology that until recently has been a fixture — the virtual private network (VPN). A crucial first step in resecuring modern hybrid work environments is to embrace the principles of Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA).
The Zero Trust security model trusts nothing and no one by default—including users inside the network perimeter. Threats exist internally as well as externally, and every user, device and network must be assumed to be hostile until proven otherwise.
Analyst firm Gartner adds that in today’s enterprise, there are too many entry points to fully protect and therefore, an effective security stance must protect the assets on the network rather than the network itself. Every device, user, and network connection needs to be authenticated and authorized, continuously. ZTNA is designed to provide access to resources on a least-privileged basis, derived from pre-established identity- and context-based criteria.
A Trio of Notable Trends
Three dominant IT trends have required CIOs and CSOs to examine their existing network and security tools:
SaaS apps and cloud migration blurred the network perimeter, exposing inadequacies of traditional VPN and firewall solutions, forcing organizations to search for alternative solutions. Digital transformation and hybrid deployment models, combined with work-from-anywhere and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, helped improve productivity, but often at the cost of security. A lack of visibility and access controls resulted in siloed operations across NetOps, SecOps, and ITOps. The rise of ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) required CIOs and CSOs to bolster their security with a prevention-first strategy to protect endpoints, networks, and data.
Initial response to these trends was a myriad of security and network tools – some old and some new – including endpoint protection platforms (EPP), endpoint detection and response (EDR), network detection and response (NDR), secure web gateway (SWG), cloud access security broker (CASB), next-generation firewall, content filtering, and more. Individually, these tools have been inefficient and less effective due to the multi-vendor nature of solution deployment. Additionally, traditional VPNs drove the pursuit of a more holistic ZTNA, where ZTNA-as-a-service consolidates several network and security tools into a single, comprehensive solution.
BlackBerry's Unique Approach to ZTNA
When implemented holistically, ZTNA is a deterrent against ransomware, command-and-control (C2) beacons, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration. It significantly reduces the attack surface while empowering organizations with support for secure, remote access via bring-your-own endpoints.
This further reduces the surface area for attack, preventing lateral movement and unwanted application discovery, and providing greater visibility into network activity for both on-premises (on-prem) and cloud resources.
BlackBerry believes in a multi-tenant, cloud-native approach to ZTNA, to provide modern enterprises with a fast, reliable and elastic solution that empowers digital business transformation. Furthermore, it must be designed to reduce packet loss, jitter, and latency, while optimizing application access globally, meeting the needs of your workforce, wherever they may be.
Finally, it should be coupled with world-class artificial intelligence (AI) driven cybersecurity solutions that support a prevention-first strategy.
To meet these criteria, BlackBerry designed its CylanceGATEWAY™ product as an AI-assisted ZTNA solution that delivers scalable, outbound-only access to critical on-premises applications and assets. As we continue to update CylanceGATEWAY, we’d like to explore how we have evolved along this journey to produce what we believe to be the best-in-class ZTNA product on the market.
ZTNA for All
The goal of CylanceGATEWAY has been to make ZTNA easy, available, and affordable to companies of all sizes, from large global enterprises to small businesses and mid-market organizations. As part of our broader extended detection and response (XDR) strategy, CylanceGATEWAY is a key component in our mission to even the playing field across our client base, making the level of security achievable by the largest and savviest companies equally available to all our clients, regardless of size.
To accomplish these goals, we built a cloud-native, ZTNA-as-a-service solution that leverages multiple telemetry points to secure networks and resources, while enabling access to enterprise services – whether SaaS or on-premises – from any managed or unmanaged device. It provides the flexibility to secure network connectivity on a just-in-time and least-privileged basis.
CylanceGATEWAY extends our innovative Access Control List (ACL) framework, first released in 2021, to provide network admins the ability to define action (allow/disallow), access (destination), and association (user/risk). Other recent enhancements include:
DNS tunneling detection support Destination reputation threat detection support Client private IP range allocation Enhancements to Syslog/SIEM Per-app tunnel support on Windows® Force Network Protection Mode on macOS® and iOS® Gateway Connector enhancements


The Bucharest residential market is expected to reach a stock of 15,700 new units by the end of 2011, as shown by a recent study by DTZ Echinox. With nearly 1,000 apartments announced for completion in 2011, the new supply is significantly lower compared to approx. 4,100 apartments completed in 2010.
According to DTZ Echinox estimates, the amount of 20,000 units sold annually will remain fairly constant for the next period, while the new apartments will count for approximately 15 up to 25 percent on the a medium term.
According to the study, the average inhabitant of Bucharest cannot afford to acquire the average dwelling in the city. The reduced affordability keeps the number of transactions at relatively low levels compared to similar European capitals. While Bucharest has registered only 1500 new apartment sales in 2010, other capitals in the region have seen significantly higher sales volumes. 10,260 new residential units have been transacted in the Polish capital in the same interval, around 7 times more than in Bucharest, while Budapest has had 2,5 times higher sales, respectively 3,885 units.
Prices for new residential properties in Bucharest seem to have reached a certain stability, as shown in the DTZ Residential Market Overview H1 2011 study, following dramatic fluctuations over the past 5-6 years. The value per sqm in newly built residential premises is currently estimated at around EUR 950. Next year might bring a slight increase of 5 percent, followed by a moderated growth trend for 2013, when residential prices could get up to 10 percent higher.
According to official statistics (as of February 2011), a total of 34,858 units amounting EUR 1,4 million have been sold from the moment the ‘Prima Casa’ program became active.


Flashing vs Steady: Which Bicycle Light Passed the Law?
Safety is a primary concern in bicycling. As it is a sport on roads where other vehicles may pass, it is a risky hobby as cyclists have less protection and are more at risk for road accidents. Therefore, one of the best ways to ensure safety is to install a bicycle light that can guide cyclists even through the darkest and foggiest of nights. But since bicycle lights vary depending on the lights’ steadiness, which one is better—flashing or steady lights?
The UK Requires Bicycle Lights For Cyclists
The necessity of installing a bicycle light is determined by the specific rules set by the country’s transport laws. In the UK, cyclists must have a steady white light and a flashing red light at their rear.
It doesn't matter if a cyclist chooses to flash over steady lights. However, the government requires at least one to four Hertz flash frequency. It means that the light can switch from stable to flashing and back again or even stop flashing from time to time.
The Importance of Steady Lights
The main reason lawmakers favour steady bicycle lights is that steady lights are easier to spot. It’s easier to spot a car parked along the street, right? Steady lights are better for road safety as it is easier for drivers, pedestrians, and other road users to notice a cyclist with a steady light, particularly during the night.
Flashing Lights Are Better For Visibility
Flashing lights are still important. Even though steady lights are better for road safety, flashing lights are still crucial. Flashing lights are generally easier to spot than steady ones. While both are used for the same purpose, flashing lights are more visible to other road users than steady lights.
Factors to Consider in Choosing Bicycle Lights
Aside from the bicycle lights' steadiness, there are other factors to consider in choosing the perfect device for a cyclist's needs. Some factors include price, battery life, and brightness.
1. Price
For those budget-conscious cyclists, the price is an essential factor in buying bicycle lights. For budget-conscious cyclists, the price is crucial in purchasing bicycle lights.
2. Battery Life
Bicycle lights should have a decent battery life as cyclists ride their bicycles for miles. The battery life of a bike light ranges from five to 100 hours. In choosing a light, cyclists should consider the battery life as some lights can be useless after a few hours. To avoid this situation, cyclists should choose lights with long-lasting batteries.
3. Brightness
Another essential factor to consider in choosing bicycle lights is their brightness. Different lights have different brightness levels, which can affect visibility. For example, a cyclist can use a light that illuminates just a few meters to a light that lights up more than a hundred meters. Cyclists should choose the light that illuminates the most to ensure road safety.
Conclusion
The UK requires a steady white light and a flashing red one for cyclists. The most important reason for this law is to provide road safety for cyclists. Steady lights offer better protection as they are easy to spot. Flashing lights, however, are also crucial as they are easier to spot than steady ones.
Meanwhile, the factors to consider in choosing bicycle lights include price, battery life, and brightness. When choosing the perfect bicycle light for their needs, these factors should be the top priority in cyclists' minds.
Crushbike covers all bikers’ needs, such as cycling accessories and more. Our goal is to provide the highest quality biking needs, such as the best bicycle lights and comfortable bicycle seats, to ensure a safe and enjoyable biking experience. Shop on our website and enjoy easy returns, quick deliveries, and money-back guarantees today.


There is no question that income inequality in America is real. In fact, the income gap has been increasing for at least the last 30 years. Factors leading to income inequality According to the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, globalization, education, technology and specific government policies contribute to income inequality. And credible arguments can be made to support these conclusions. …


Experts suggest that color can make a difference in the workplace, increasing productivity and energy, reducing stress, and boosting mood. Consider a few easy ideas: Use brighter colors in lobbies to create a lasting impression; use neutral colors to create a relaxed, calming atmosphere; primary colors can generate energy; and yellow is connected with positivity and happiness. You can use color to create a more casual or homelike atmosphere or to support branding. You don’t have to paint entire rooms or hallways. A red accent wall here, a yellow sofa there, and tan seating in the employee lounge can all make a difference and create a positive ambiance for all employees without significant expenditure. Read the full article.


In a letter, more than 220 organizations representing students, workers, and people of color called on President Biden to extend the pause on federal student loan payments set to expire on December 31, 2022, and utilize every legal authority available to enact debt relief.
Following President Biden’s historic student debt cancellation announcement, 26 million borrowers submitted applications for cancellation, and 16 million borrowers have already been approved. Now, overtly political lawsuits are blocking borrowers from relief. Today’s letter outlines how the Biden administration must not require borrowers to re-enter repayment on loans that may be cancellated, and how it must ensure that the promise of cancellation is fulfilled.
Read the Letter: Letter from more than 220 organizations to the Biden administration


Abstract
Objectives. Health scenarios are constantly evolving, particularly in developing countries but little is known regarding the health status of indigenous groups in Malaysia. This study aims to elucidate the current health status in four indigenous populations in the country, who by and large been left out of mainstream healthcare developments. Methods. Participants were recruited from the Temuan, Jehai, Kensiu and Bidayuh indigenous groups throughout Peninsula Malaysia and Sarawak. Health parameters including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, casual blood glucose and, total cholesterol levels were measured using established methods. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) levels were measured to assess oxidative stress status. Blood films were screened for evidence of microbial or parasitic infections and leukocyte differential counting was performed. Results. The Temuan and Bidayuh who are more urbanized, had significantly higher mean body weight, BMI, total cholesterol (p<0.05) and higher prevalence of obesity and hypercholesterolemia. Low cholesterol levels, elevated eosinophil counts and increased total IgE, indicative of immune responses to infection or allergy, were recorded in the rural Kensiu and Jehai. The Kensiu had higher levels of FRAP and lower levels of MDA, whereas the reverse was found in the Temuan. This suggests reduced oxidative stress in the Kensiu compared to the Temuan. Expected correlations between FRAP and MDA levels with age, were evident in Jehai. Conclusions. Our findings reflect a shifting health burden and an epidemiological transition, particularly in the Temuan and Bidayuh. These changes could be attributed to dietary habits, lifestyles and socio-economic factors brought about by urbanization.
Keywords Health Indigenous communities Oxidative stress


The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested Eddy Alexandre, the operator of EminiFX, a crypto trading platform, for his connection to a $59 million fraud. The operator was charged with allegations of a fraud case that victimised many individuals.
As reported by the Department of Justice, the trading platform operator had alleged fraud raking in as high as $59 million from hundreds of investors under the cover of the forex trading platform.
The US Attorney, Damian Williams, issued a statement the previous week describing the actions of the crime. The attorney mentioned that Alexandre solicited the money from his clients to invest in his company while promising them a high return on investment from the company.
However, in reality, the promised proprietary technology by Alexandre never existed, and the investors’ money was transferred to his personal account for luxury items. Alexandre invested a non-substantial amount of the money in his company, which he later lost, leading to a complete loss and exorbitant spending on the investment.
High Risk of Crypto and Forex Fraud
The attorney further emphasised the need for investors to be careful of high-risk investments. Even though such foreign exchanges promise high returns or can return such yields, they are often filled with holes.
In response to the allegation, the Assistant Director of the FBI, “As alleged, Mr. Alexandre solicited millions of dollars from unwitting investors to whom he ‘guaranteed’ weekly returns of 5% through his trading platform using a new technology he refused to disclose.” Michael Driscoll said.
The Assistant Director of the FBI further went on to assure the public of the commitment of the FBI to always go all out in getting criminals like Alexandre and ensuring they have met the full weight of justice. This type of action prevents such criminals from walking scot-free without facing the wrath of the justice system.
From the complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan, Alexandre operated EminiFX, Inc., which was regarded as a crypto investment platform that Alexandre founded. He paraded a false investment scheme that could yield high returns between September 2021 and May 2022.
Alexandre reportedly promised his investors “guaranteed” large investment returns by utilising “secret” technologies. For example, he allegedly promised clients that investing in a “Robo-Advisor Assisted account” would quadruple their money in five months.


Why are challenge coins popular with collectors and history buffs? Were they just another another passing fad, like Pogs and Beanie Babies?
Challenge coins are unique to other collectible items. Unlike wildly popular fads, challenge coins didn’t rise and burn out overnight.
These coins have quietly been around for decades, and even centuries according to scholars.
Do you love history, military culture, and coin collecting? Stick around to learn more about challenge coins.
A Presidential Tradition
Challenge coins have ancient Roman roots; however, they’re mostly synonymous with U.S. military culture. This culture also includes the one and only President of the United States.
Presidents receive their own challenge coins. They’re also known to gift coins to military personnel. You may even find the President secretly slipping a challenge coin into the palm of a soldier’s hand.
Challenge coins are given out in the military, typically after completing a duty or service. WWII soldiers also followed challenge coin rules in their drinking games. These games cemented challenge coins in popular military culture.
The tradition of crafting different coin designs started with military leaders. They wanted their challenge coins to symbolize their squadrons. Henceforth, the customized challenge coin was born.
Challenge Coins Aren’t Just for the Military
Challenge coins have military roots. Military culture also influences other professions, like police officers and firefighters.
Police captains often reward high-performing officers with customized challenge coins. Firefighters are also gifted custom coins for their bravery.
Police and fire captains can customize their own challenge coins online. Firehouses, police stations, police k-9 dogs, popular sayings, and helping hands are excellent symbols to use.
Challenge Coins for Personal Growth
Think hard about the word “challenge.”
Challenge coins are gifted after completing a challenge of some kind. That challenge could be a military duty or promotion. The same philosophy can apply to any challenge.
Personal challenges also count. That’s why challenge coins are popular with addiction recovery specialists. Challenge coins are a healthy way to reward patients for maintaining their sobriety.
Scout leaders also customize challenge coins for specific activities, like building campfires or fishing. Coaches could use them to motivate their players during training season.
How could you include challenge coins in your life or career?
Beyond Coins
Challenge coins go beyond “coins” themselves.
Take a look at the different challenge coin bottle openers, belt buckles, and poker chips from this site. These ideas make excellent gifts for military service members, police officers, firefighters, and paramedics.
More companies are including challenge coins and customized products in corporate gifts. Challenge coins can encourage employees to reach higher after a strong first quarter.
Do you have an avid challenge coin collector in your life? Surprise your friend with a brand new display case for their collection. These coins function as unique, customized decor.
Discover the World of Challenge Coins
Are you up to the challenge?
Think more about the potential benefits of challenge coins in your work and daily life.
Remember these cool facts and ideas as you customize your first coin. Don’t forget to follow the blog for more surprising tips and tricks!


Energy
Hospitalization data shows that at one point during the latest surge, children made up 13% of all COVID-19 hospitalizations. The Delta variant led to the highest number of child hospitalizations than at any period in the pandemic for which data is available.
The data also shows that while hospitalization spikes occurred in every state, states in the South and Mountain West were especially affected. These states have vaccination rates lower than the nation overall. Due to the availability of vaccines, the latest increase in hospitalizations was lower than the spike last winter.
All hospitals registered as Medicare or Medicaid health providers must report hospital utilization data regularly to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). There are nearly 6,000 hospitals covered under the policy and they didn’t consistently report COVID-19 information until October 2020. As a result, complete hospitalization data from the first two COVID-19 surges is unavailable.
However, the current data provides insight into how the Delta variant affects the US.
According to the HHS data, as of October 7, about 5,200 people checked into hospitals every day with either a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection. In mid-September, the daily average was above 5,800 new patients per day, the highest level since mid-April.
While the increase did not reach the same levels as in the previous winter, it was similar in that older Americans continue to have the highest hospitalization rate. Still, during the Delta surge, the proportion of younger patients needing hospitalization was higher compared to past surges.
In early September, an average of 748 children per day were admitted to the hospital due to COVID-19 accounting for 13% of reported COVID-19 hospitalizations. For comparison, the previous peak for pediatric COVID-19 hospitalizations were 611 per day in November 2020, when children were 7% of hospitalizations.
The statistics for hospital stays also hit pandemic highs for children in mid-September, with an average of 2,379 patients per day. As of October 4, the number of children staying in the hospital per day was 1,828, a decrease of 23% but still higher than any pre-Delta variant peak.
Despite the spike in child hospital admissions for COVID-19, September’s pediatric hospitalization rate was one hospitalization a day per 100,000 children, nearly six times lower than the hospitalization rate at the time for people 80 years and older.
Since the Delta variant is primarily impacting the unvaccinated, intensive care units at hospitals are impacted in ways similar to pre-Delta peaks. In early September, 81% of intensive care unit (ICU) beds were used at hospitals, with 31% of occupied by COVID-19 patients. In early January, 79% of ICU beds were occupied by any patient, with 33% occupied by COVID-19 patients.Vaccinated people accounted for 17,000 hospitalizations since vaccines became available, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to HHS data, there have been 1.5 million COVID-19 hospitalizations so far in 2021.
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The 2019 Global Humanitarian Overview estimated over 132 million people in need though only 94 million can be targeted. Globally, the number, scale and severity of humanitarian crises exceed the current capacity of the international humanitarian system to deliver. There have been well-documented failures of the humanitarian health sector’s response to recent crises. At the same time, efforts to achieve universal health coverage are being significantly undermined by widespread corruption in frontline healthcare service delivery. Based on a review of the recent literature, we aimed to identify the main challenges that humanitarian supply-chain actors face in the global health sector. We explored how lack of traceability, accountability and visibility hinder the effectiveness of Non-Gouvernemantal Organisations (NGOs) activities in helping people in need and undermine the trust of donors.


The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), coordinator of the U.S. voluntary standardization system, and its Committee on Education (CoE) are pleased to announce that
Jannatul Bushra and Habibor Rahman of the University of Arizona are the first-place winners of the annual ANSI student paper competition. Patrick Henderson of Drexel University is the second-place winner. The competition is part of an ANSI-led effort to raise awareness about the strategic importance of standards and conformance among U.S. undergraduate and graduate students.
To address the 2021 theme,
The Use of Standards in the Global Fight against COVID-19, applicants were asked to submit papers that explore the use, or absence, of standards in response to the COVID pandemic.
The ANSI student paper competition, an annual contest, was open to students of any discipline enrolled in an associate, undergraduate, or graduate-level program at a U.S. academic institute of higher learning.
The winning paper, "How Standards Can Facilitate the Global Fight against Pandemics and Improve Preparedness," explores how standards can enable agile productions of emergency medical supplies using additive manufacturing (AM). The authors identify some available standards that can be leveraged in designing, producing, and evaluating medical products. They also recommend some additional standards for AM to ensure secure and responsive manufacturing operations, product quality and performance, and support rapid production of on-demand medical supplies for future pandemics.
The second-place entry is titled "Educational Standards and the Future of Digital Badging in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Promising Alternative for Reinforcing Student Competencies." The author analyzes the standards set forth by organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Physical Activity Society, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to demonstrate how educational professionals can identify methods for improving student fluency in the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for obtaining professional certification in the exercise sciences.
Each winner will receive a cash prize for their paper.
ANSI will announce details about the 2022 student paper competition soon.
For more information about the competition or the ANSI Committee on Education, please contact Lisa Rajchel (lrajchel@ansi.org).


A Global Toolbox for Corporate Climate Litigation
New Landmark Research Project announced
The British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) today announces the launch of a landmark new research project on climate litigation within the corporate world. Global Perspectives on Corporate Climate Legal Tactics will produce a toolbox for NGOs, government bodies, local communities, other affected groups and individuals around the world, and those representing them. It aims to trigger a significant impact of international relevance.
More than 2000 climate change litigation cases have been filed globally. Whilst the majority of these cases have been filed against governments, climate change-related cases have also been filed against private actors, particularly against major greenhouse gas emitters such as fossil fuel and cement companies. Althought there is a growing body of work analysing climate litigation from a comparative perspective, analysis of the peculiarities of cases involving corporate players has yet to receive the same rigorous analysis as those against states. This project will seek to redress the balance.
The BIICL project Leader
Dr Ivano Alogna commented, 'We believe this project will establish a valuable reference source for policymakers and practitioners exploring the options for climate change litigation involving companies. It will develop legal models to be incorporated into domestic legislation, regulation, contracts and international treaties. It will foster more effective litigation planning and outcomes whilst at the same time allowing corporate actors to make positive changes to mitigate their litigation risks and contribute to combatting climate change.'
The BIICL research team is supported by an international Core Group of some of the most internationally renowned experts from around the world in the field of corporate climate litigation and related areas, drawn from science, the judiciary, legal practice, and academia. Among them:
Nigel Pleming KC, Chairman of the project's Core Group, commented, .' 'BIICL has the necessary independence and expertise to research, analyse, organise and publish a report bringing together best practices from around the globe. Climate change litigation, particularly when involving non-governmental parties, must be efficient and speedy, with streamlined procedures and effective remedies. It is to be hoped that the legal models identified by BIICL will materially assist countries to ensure that these aims are realised.'d by BIICL will materially assist countries to ensure that these aims are realised Professor Jacqueline Peel, Director of Melbourne Climate Futures, University of Melbourne, added, 'Corporate climate litigation is on the rise globally but the speed of development has meant academic resources have not kept pace. This project, drawing on leading knowledge from experts across the world, will help fill this critical gap.' Richard Heede, Director of the Climate Accountability Institute, summarised the importance of the project: 'It is essential that jurisprudence and climate law across the globe evolve to inform, manage, allow, and support litigation against corporations increasingly accused of standing athwart efforts to reduce carbon and methane emissions in alignment with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. This Toolbox provides a coherent approach to evolving these issues in various jurisdictions and legal frameworks.'


It is no longer an enigma that climate change is drastically and detrimentally changing our world; glaciers are shrinking, sea levels are rising and our fellow beings are struggling to survive. How do we maintain hope in the face of such enormous, seemingly unfathomable adversity? What role do the stories we tell and the compassion in our hearts play as we move into an unsettling future? Join Bonnie Waltch, Don Perovich, and Thupten Jinpa Langri—a storyteller, a climate scientist, and a Buddhist scholar, for a conversation about the most compelling issue of our times. This session will include a movie clip from the Climate Emergency: Feedback Loops movie series. Nischal Neupane, Program Manager at the Mind & Life Institute will moderate the conversation.


Scholars argue that state trial judges should lead efforts to deregulate legal representation.
Experts explore regulatory possibilities for the legal profession.
Revamping the regulation of legal services might be a first step toward overhauling criminal justice.
Scholar argues that low-income litigants can benefit from self-help resources.
Proposed rule could improve the accuracy of government list of free sources of legal aid.


The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has proposed generating N188 billion in income in the 2022 operational year, representing a 50.4 percent increase over the previous year.
This comes as the agency bemoaned the impact of unpaid payments from clients, particularly Arik Air, on its performance, and called on the National Assembly to intervene to preserve the agency from bankruptcy.
FAAN also threatened to take action against other clients that broke their earlier agreements, such as concessionaires, private terminal operators, and advertising firms, warning it would not hesitate to terminate their contracts with the agency.
During his opening remarks at the joint oversight visit of the Senate and House of Representatives on aviation on Saturday, Capt Yadudu also explained that, despite the fact that FAAN does not have an operating surplus, the Authority was required to remit N16.7 billion to the Federation Account as contribution to the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the year 2021 alone, despite the pandemic’s impact.
According to Yadudu, FAAN planned to raise revenue generation to N188 billion in 2022, up from N125.4 billion approved for 2021, which represents a 50.4 percent increase.
The FAAN’s executive director further stated that the Authority has moved its attention from aeronautical to non-aeronautical revenue streams in order to improve revenue performance.
According to him “Specific areas where effort is being concentrated on include advertisement, car parks, private airport terminal operators, and Bi-Courtney (BOT) revenue sources.”
He explained that the prediction was made in the hopes that the Covid-19 pandemic would have passed, resulting in an increase in passenger travel as well as a lift in the authority’s non-aeronautical revenue base, as previously stated in the 2021 budget performance.
Mr. Yadudu commended the committees for their efforts at repealing the existing Aviation Agencies Acts, and enacting new ones.
Sen. Smart Adeyemi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, praised FAAN for its performance despite the hurdles created by the Covid-19 outbreak in his response.
He urged FAAN to expand its airport security activities through the use of technology and the motivation of its human resources.
Mr. Nnolim Nnaji, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, recommended that the new international terminal in Lagos open as soon as feasible because it is the most heavily used gateway in the country.
He stated that the committee was also concerned about the welfare and well-being of workers, and that aviation was critical to Nigeria’s socio-economic growth.


To acquire the data needed to build biologically plausible models, we develop and utilize a multidisciplinary range of experimental techniques. We record cellular resolution images of neuronal populations from behaving animals. In addition, we use fluorescence microscopy to identify the expression patterns of specific proteins. Finally, we reconstruct synaptic connectivity using 3D electron microscopy.
By combining these methods within individual brains, we aim to discover the relationships between the structure and function of neuronal networks driving behavior. Firstly, we want to understand how sensory stimuli are transformed in the brain to ultimately generate motor decisions. Building on this understanding, we aim to identify the sources of variability during goal-directed behaviors. To address these questions, we compare and analyze neural circuits across mammals, fish and amphibians to determine which aspects of a computation are species-specific and which generalize across species.
DISCOVER our homepage here
Methods 3D electron microscopy for neural circuit reconstruction whole-brain functional imaging of neuronal activity 5 selected publications Fulton, KA, and Briggman, KL(2021) Permeabilization-free en bloc immunohistochemistry for correlative microscopy. Elife 10, e63392. Ding H, Smith RG, Poleg-Polsky A, Diamond JS, Briggman KL(2016) Species-specific wiring for direction selectivity in the mammalian retina. Nature 535: 105-110. Helmstaedter M, Briggman KL, Turaga SC, Jain V, Seung HS, Denk W. (2013) Connectomicreconstruction of the inner plexiform later in the mouse retina. Nature 500(7461):168-74. Briggman KL, Helmstaedter M, Denk W. (2011) Wiring specificity in the direction-selectivity circuit of the retina. Nature 471(7337):183-8. Briggman KL, Abarbanel HDI, Kristan WB Jr. (2005) Optical imaging of neuronal populationsduring decision-making. Science. 307(5711):896-901


Abstract
Treatment of gastroschisis often requires multiple surgical procedures to re-establish abdominal domain, reduce abdominal contents, and eventually close the abdominal wall. In patients who have concomitant respiratory failure requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), this process becomes further complicated. This situation is rare and only five such cases have been reported in the ECMO registry database. Management of three of the five patients along with results and implications for future care of similar patients is discussed here. Two patients had respiratory failure due to meconium aspiration syndrome and one patient had persistent acidosis as well as worsening pulmonary hypertension leading to the decision of ECMO. The abdominal contents were placed in a spring-loaded silastic silo while on ECMO and primary closure was performed three to six days after the decannulation. All three patients survived and are developmentally appropriate. We recommend avoiding aggressively reducing the abdominal contents and using a silo to conservatively reducing the gastroschisis while the patient is on ECMO therapy. Keeping the intra-abdominal pressure below 20 mm Hg can possibly reduce ECMO days and ventilator time and has been shown to decrease morbidity and mortality. Patients with gastroschisis and respiratory failure requiring ECMO can have good outcomes despite the complexity of required care.
Original language English (US) Pages (from-to) 768-772 Number of pages 5 Journal American Surgeon Volume 82 Issue number 9 State Published - Sep 2016 ASJC Scopus subject areas Surgery


November 20th, 2010 SHARP Shows Benefit for Vytorin in Chronic Kidney Disease
The long-awaited SHARP study has turned up positive results for Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin) in a population of patients with chronic kidney disease. Results of SHARP (Study of Heart and Renal Protection) were presented on Saturday at the American Society of Nephrology meeting in Denver and were scheduled to be posted online on the trial’s website.
SHARP compared Vytorin to placebo in 9,438 patients with chronic kidney disease and found that Vytorin-treated patients had a significant (p=0.0010) 16.1% reduction in the incidence of first major vascular event (nonfatal MI or cardiac death, stroke, or revascularization). A first major vascular event occurred in 15.2% of patients in the Vytorin group compared to 17.9% of patients in the placebo group.
It should be noted that the SHARP steering committee sought to change the primary endpoint (from first major vascular event to first major atherosclerotic event) and the planned statistical analysis of the trial to avoid producing a false negative result. The trial sponsor, Merck, did not endorse their plan. However, the SHARP investigators reported a similar 16.5% reduction (p=0.0022) in the proposed new endpoint, which occurred in 13.4% of the placebo group compared to 11.3% in the Vytorin group.
It should also be noted that the primary analysis of major vascular events did not include approximately 1,000 patients who took simvastatin monotherapy for the first year of the trial before being re-randomized to either Vytorin or placebo. When this group is included in the analysis the results remain substantially the same, producing a 15.3% reduction (p=0.0012), with a major vascular event occurring in 17.6% of the placebo group versus in 15.1% of the Vytorin group.
During the first year, when compared to placebo, LDL dropped by 40% in the Vytorin group and 28% in the simvastatin group. At 2.5 years, LDL cholesterol was reduced by 30% in the Vytorin group.
About a third of patients in the trial were undergoing dialysis. Among patients not on dialysis at the start of the study, there was no difference in the progression to end-stage renal disease between Vytorin and placebo.
The investigators reported no unexpected safety issues. Cancer was reported in 9.4 % of patients in the Vytorin group versus 9.5% in the placebo group.


A few years ago, three of my friends were diagnosed with breast cancer. The ongoing theme from all their doctors was the importance of using natural products on the body, and especially to stay away from antiperspirant. An unsettling fact that I hadn’t realized until that time, was that the antiperspirant most people use daily is actually classified as a drug per the FDA. I was eager to switch to natural products for myself.


Laws passed by the legislature are only one source of employee rights. In addition to those laws, employers may make written or oral promises to employees. These promises often deal with compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment. These promises can occur in formal agreements, compensation plans, or employment handbooks, or in less formal circumstances like emails, letters, or conversations. Regardless of the format or medium, promises can create contracts. And employers are required to honor the contractual promises they make to employees.
At the end of the employment relationship, employers sometimes ask employees to sign severance agreements. In severance agreements, the employee typically makes promises to the employer and gives up legal rights, including legal rights the employee may not know about, in exchange for a monetary payment or other benefits. Severance agreements typically require the employee to waive all potential legal claims against the employer, including claims the employee may not be aware of, so it is important to understand your rights and potential claims before deciding whether to sign a severance agreement.
info@coffieldlaw.com


As a property manager, you must do everything possible to maintain your property so that any tenant who enters your building has a pleasant experience. However, no matter how careful you are, there are situations beyond your influence that can affect your home's base.
In such cases, you must immediately contact concrete contractor services to make the appropriate arrangements—or else, you risk suffering significant losses that could hurt your entire company! These experts have the knowledge and experience to manage circumstances like yours and prevent your tenants from leaving and moving somewhere else. Walls can also collapse in extreme cases, particularly when there is sudden motion during an earthquake. Although certain damages are repairable, it is also prudent to prevent such costly repairs. You must spot potential foundation issues with your home before it is too late. As a result, keep an eye out for the following signs that your home's base needs to be repaired:
If you notice holes in your base or on the exterior of your home, it may be a sign that your infrastructure is failing. Cracks in your floors and walls, as well as a broken chimney, are all signs of a developing foundation issue. The structure of your property will shift as the season change and the years pass due to various uncontrollable factors such as soil erosion and weather changes. If not addressed by a professional concrete firm, their impact on your foundation will cause significant problems.
Cracks may appear in your drywall for a variety of reasons. If you live in an area with a high humidity level, the moisture can eventually cause cracks in your walls. Cracks in your walls can be caused by water damage from your roof. If your gutters are in good shape, the humidity isn't an issue, and your attic insulation is adequate. However, such cracks may indicate that your home's foundation is uneven.
Doors that protrude may indicate an imminent foundation problem, in addition to problematic walls and floors. Exterior doors that bulge from their threshold and interior doors that jut out or drag at the top are also trouble indicators. Unfortunately, this type of foundation issue can affect any structure over time.
Humidity is also the cause of sticky windows and doors. The wood in the windows or doors expands in response to moisture, making them more challenging to operate. If your home has no humidity and your windows and doors are continually sticking for no apparent reason, your base may be beginning to shift. This happens because the window or door frame will twist out of balance as the base shifts. It is recommended that you contact a foundation repair service provider if you see this sign. Please make an appointment for a comprehensive foundation assessment after explaining that your windows and doors don't seem to match in their frames.
A settling foundation occurs when your property's slab foundation shifts in an increasing direction, while foundation upheaval occurs when your property's slab foundation shifts in the opposite direction. You may expect the interior of the house and hallways, doorways, and other areas to be affected.
The most common causes of heaving foundations are soil expansion and contraction under the floor, as well as excessive moisture buildup from rain, snow, or plumbing leaks. To avoid more damage to your house, you can handle the situation by contacting concrete solutions services. Another issue that concrete contractors should investigate in your area is a house that appears to be collapsing or settling into the ground. If you notice that a part of your building's base has become lower than the rest, it will need to be lifted, and foundation piers will need to be added.
A slanted or uneven floor is another indication that your home needs foundation repair; floorboards can begin to squeak, and you can hear rattling rounds as you walk. It's simple to spot uneven floors:


Assessing the Relevance of Governmental Characteristics to Address Wicked Problems in Turbulent Times
New paper co-authored with James Denford, Gregory Dawson, and Aroon Manoharan has been published in Public Management Review. Governments have long faced traditional bureaucratic problems and developed a set of mechanisms to handle them, but few studies have examined the government’s underlying characteristics in addressing such problems. Wicked problems – those with unclear definitions, causal […]
New paper co-authored with Caroline Veldhuizen, Wasana Bandara, and Artemis Chang has been published in Resources Policy. Highlights CSR practices are comprised of stakeholder engagement and operational activities. A holistic framework based upon extant literature enhances analysis of CSR practices. Pursuit of social licence to operate has impacts at both surface and deeper levels. The […]
New paper co-authored with Yancong Xie and Mohammad Jabbari published in Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management. On organizational robustness: A conceptual framework Understanding robustness and how organizations can configure and adapt is fundamental for their survival. In this paper, we build on the general system theory to conceptualize the underlying mechanisms of organizational robustness. […]
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In their study of recovered COVID-19 patients, the researchers determined that SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T-cell responses remained largely intact and could recognize virtually all mutations in the variants studied. While larger studies are needed, the researchers note that their findings suggest that the T cell response in convalescent individuals, and most likely in vaccinees, are largely not affected by the mutations found in these three variants, and should offer protection against emerging variants.T cells recognize recent SARS-CoV-2 variants — https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/t-cells-recognize-recent-sars-cov-2-variants


In many disciplines within electrical engineering, it is common to evaluate the ratios of powers and power densities that differ by many orders of magnitude. These ratios could be expressed in scientific notation, but it is more common to use the logarithmic
decibel (dB) scale in such applications.
In the conventional (linear) scale, the ratio of power \(P_1\) to power \(P_0\) is simply
\[ G = \frac{P_1}{P_0} ~~~\mbox{(linear units)} \nonumber \]
Here, "\(G\)'' might be interpreted as "power gain.'' Note that \(G<1\) if \(P_1<p_0\) and \(G>1\) if \(P_1>P_0\). In the decibel scale, the ratio of power \(P_1\) to power \(P_0\) is
\[ \boxed{ G \triangleq 10\log_{10}\frac{P_1}{P_0} ~~~\mbox{(dB)} } \label{m0154_eGdef} \]
where "dB'' denotes a unitless quantity which is expressed in the decibel scale. Note that \(G<0\) dB (i.e., is "negative in dB'') if \(P_1<P_0\)>0 and \(G>0\) dB if \(P_1>P_0\).
The power gain \(P_1/P_0\) in dB is given by Equation \ref{m0154_eGdef}.
Alternatively, one might choose to interpret a power ratio as a loss \(L\) with \(L\triangleq 1/G\) in linear units, which is \(L=-G\) when expressed in dB. Most often, but not always, engineers interpret a power ratio as "gain'' if the output power is expected to be greater than input power (e.g., as expected for an amplifier) and as "loss'' if output power is expected to be less than input power (e.g., as expected for a lossy transmission line).
Power loss \(L\) is the reciprocal of power gain \(G\). Therefore, \(L=-G\) when these quantities are expressed in dB.
A 2 W signal is injected into a long cable. The power arriving at the other end of the cable is 10 \(\mu\)W. What is the power loss in dB?
Solution
In linear units:
\[G = \frac{10 \: \mu \mbox{W}}{2~\mbox{W}} = 5 \times 10^{-6} ~~~\mbox{(linear units)} \nonumber \]
In dB:
\[ G &= 10\log_{10}\left(5 \times 10^{-6}\right) \cong -53.0~\mbox{dB} \nonumber \\ L &= -G \cong \underline{+53.0~\mbox{dB}} \nonumber \]
The decibel scale is used in precisely the same way to relate ratios of spatial power densities for waves. For example, the loss incurred when the spatial power density is reduced from \(S_0\) (SI base units of W/m\(^2\)) to \(S_1\) is
\[ L = 10\log_{10}\frac{S_0}{S_1} ~~~\mbox{(dB)} \nonumber \]
This works because the common units of m\(^{-2}\) in the numerator and denominator cancel, leaving a power ratio.
A common point of confusion is the proper use of the decibel scale to represent voltage or current ratios. To avoid confusion, simply refer to the definition expressed in Equation \ref{m0154_eGdef}. For example, let's say \(P_1 = V_1^2/R_1\) where \(V_1\) is potential and \(R_1\) is the impedance across which \(V_1\) is defined. Similarly, let us define \(P_0 = V_0^2/R_0\) where \(V_0\) is potential and \(R_0\) is the impedance across which \(V_0\) is defined. Applying Equation \ref{m0154_eGdef}:
\begin{align} G &\triangleq 10\log_{10}\frac{P_1}{P_0} ~~~\mbox{(dB)} \nonumber \\ &= 10\log_{10}\frac{V_1^2/R_1}{V_0^2/R_0} ~~~\mbox{(dB)} \end{align}
Now, if \(R_1=R_0\), then
\[\begin{align} G &= 10\log_{10}\frac{V_1^2}{V_0^2} ~~~\mbox{(dB)} \nonumber \\ &= 10\log_{10}\left(\frac{V_1}{V_0}\right)^2 ~~~\mbox{(dB)} \nonumber \\ &= 20\log_{10}\frac{V_1}{V_0} ~~~\mbox{(dB)} \end{align} \nonumber \]
However, note that this is
not true if \(R_1\neq R_0\).
A power ratio in dB is equal to \(20\log_{10}\) of the voltage ratio only if the associated impedances are equal.
Adding to the potential for confusion on this point is the concept of
voltage gain \(G_v\):
\[ G_v \triangleq 20\log_{10}\frac{V_1}{V_0} ~~~\mbox{(dB)} \nonumber \]
which applies regardless of the associated impedances. Note that \(G_v=G\) only if the associated impedances are equal, and that these ratios are different otherwise. Be careful!
The decibel scale simplifies common calculations. Here's an example. Let's say a signal having power \(P_0\) is injected into a transmission line having loss \(L\). Then the output power \(P_1=P_0/L\) in linear units. However, in dB, we find:
\begin{align} 10\log_{10}{P_1} &= 10\log_{10}{\frac{P_0}{L}} \nonumber \\ &= 10\log_{10}{P_0} - 10\log_{10}{L} \nonumber \end{align}
Division has been transformed into subtraction; i.e.,
\[ P_1 = P_0 - L ~~~\mbox{(dB)} \label{m0154_edbd} \]
This form facilitates easier calculation and visualization, and so is typically preferred.
Finally, note that the units of \(P_1\) and \(P_0\) in Equation \ref{m0154_edbd} are not dB
per se, but rather dB with respect to the original power units. For example, if \(P_1\) is in mW, then taking \(10\log_{10}\) of this quantity results in a quantity having units of dB relative to 1 mW. A power expressed in dB relative to 1 mW is said to have units of "dBm.'' For example, "0 dBm'' means 0 dB relative to 1 mW, which is simply 1 mW. Similarly \(+10\) dBm is \(10\) mW, \(-10\) dBm is 0.1 mW, and so on.


The plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium
Delftia acidovorans RAY209 is capable of establishing strong root attachment during early plant development at 7 days post-inoculation. The transcriptional response of RAY209 was measured using RNA-seq during early (day 2) and sustained (day 7) root colonization of canola plants, capturing RAY209 differentiation from a medium-suspended cell state to a strongly root-attached cell state. Transcriptomic data was collected in an identical manner during RAY209 interaction with soybean roots to explore the putative root colonization response to this globally relevant crop. Analysis indicated there is an increased number of significantly differentially expressed genes between medium-suspended and root-attached cells during early soybean root colonization relative to sustained colonization, while the opposite temporal pattern was observed for canola root colonization. Regardless of the plant host, root-attached RAY209 cells exhibited the least amount of differential gene expression between early and sustained root colonization. Root-attached cells of either canola or soybean roots expressed high levels of a fasciclin gene homolog encoding an adhesion protein, as well as genes encoding hydrolases, multiple biosynthetic processes, and membrane transport. Notably, while RAY209 ABC transporter genes of similar function were transcribed during attachment to either canola or soybean roots, several transporter genes were uniquely differentially expressed during colonization of the respective plant hosts. In turn, both canola and soybean plants expressed genes encoding pectin lyase and hydrolases - enzymes with purported function in remodelling extracellular matrices in response to RAY209 colonization. RAY209 exhibited both a core regulatory response and a planthost-specific regulatory response to root colonization, indicating that RAY209 specifically adjusts its cellular activities to adapt to the canola and soybean root environments. This transcriptomic data defines the basic RAY209 response as both a canola and soybean commercial crop and seed inoculant. Keywords: Delftia; PGPR; RNA-seq; canola; inoculant; soybean.


Landlords need to prepare a written agreement for every residential tenancy. However, a verbal agreement is still valid and enforceable. It’s also important to note that the standard terms found in the B.C. Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) still applies regardless of whether a written agreement is present. Additional Considerations Paying a security deposit confirms tenancy Tenants and landlords must both…
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Name: Arjun Paswan Hometown: Bhitiarwa, Bihar Occupation: Farmer Returned from: Uttar Pradesh Arjun Paswan migrated across the country performing agricultural tasks. For a family of eleven, he’d send Rs. 10,000 back home and limit his expenses to Rs. 1,200. The lockdown initiated the first of many struggles; for two months – he was stranded without a meal and tolerated torture by the policemen. During a phone call with his wife, Arjun realised his wife’s worry along with his distress and left for Bihar on a bicycle.
Interviewer: Tell me about your experience with the virus and your journey from Uttar Pradesh to Bihar. Arjun Paswan: I had been preparing wheat for fifteen days, and abruptly, the whole world is in lockdown. I panicked. The following twenty-days were spent inside one room; there was no work, the police harassed if I left the building, and there was no food supply either. My family cried on the phone because they were concerned about my survival without food or income. I cried too. I waited for two months for an official channel to bring me back home. However, there was no certainty from the authorities. I, along with others from the neighbourhood purchased second-hand bicycles for Rs. 800 each and began riding to Bihar. I would have died on my way home or at home; either is better than living without food and experiencing police brutality.
I do not have any specifics about my journey since I’m uneducated. We cycled the whole distance, took breaks in the middle on the side of the road, near a village, or wherever possible at the time, my legs and hands were in immense pain, and the bread we took with us was over. The next days of the journey, I consumed biscuits, water, and bananas; the only food available to us. There were instances when strangers would provide bananas, biscuits, and water.
I was crossing the border when the policemen at the Uttar Pradesh border attacked us; there were no obvious reasons. Some policemen at the check-posts would allow us to cross after a redundant inquiry, yet there were few who lathi charged us upon arrival to push us out of the vicinity. The second event occurred in U.P. too. Although we broke the rules of the lockdown, it is the Policemen’s work and responsibility to curb the movement. I accepted two thoughts prior to departure: If I die on the way – I die; if I reach home – I’m home.
Thirteen days later, I reached the quarantine centre in my village. There was a brief check-up followed by instructions to isolate at home for 12 – 13 days, not socialize, and avoid contact with everyone around.
Interviewer: How are the conditions at home post-lockdown? Arjun Pasawan: There are eleven family members dependent on me. I’m responsible for six of my grandchildren as one of my four daughters, and a son-in-law passed away. My routine for years now has been; work all day, buy ample food, go back and dine with the family. I have no fixed income currently; we can survive in Rs. 200 or Rs. 100 or even Rs. 50. I am poor; we make do with what we get.
Since I walked out of the quarantine, I have been performing odd farming labour for others with land in the village. At times I earn Rs. 200 a day, but the work is highly irregular. I feel compelled to keep looking for potential job opportunities.
I have no information about the virus; I only heard the screams. It was through my phone and the quarantine centre where I learned about the virus after reaching Bihar. The virus is highly unpredictable; it might kill us, or it will leave. I have to continue putting food on the plate for my family; I cannot let eleven family members die of hunger.


C&C Group has posted a 55.4% net revenue decline in the first half of its financial year, compared to the same period last year, largely driven by the prolonged closure of bars and restaurants in its key markets.
The Bulmers maker reported revenue of €386.7 million in the six month period to 31 August, compared to €866.1 million in the first half of last year, as well as an operating loss of €11.7 million (compared to an operating profit of €64.4 million last year).
However, the cider maker said that off-trade sales were up 15.6% in the period, while profitability has shown signs of recovery.
Strong Demand
“Driven by strong demand in the off-trade and the gradual reopening of the on-trade in our core markets, the business returned to profit generation in July through to September," commented Stewart Gilliland, C&C Group's interim executive chairman.
"Although we expect the pace of recovery will continue to vary, as the largest independent alcohol distributor across the UK and Ireland, our business is structurally integral to the markets we serve. Our near term focus is securing our position and enhancing the performance of the business, while positioning C&C to deliver for customers and shareholders over the long term,” he added.
The group said that supply chain and production facilities remained fully operational during the COVID-19 crisis, while it saw off-trade market share gains for its Tennent’s, Bulmers and Magners brands.
It also noted that its business remains 'well placed' to fund operations through what it said was an 'extraordinary' period, with its net debt rising from €326.9 million as at 29 February 2020 to €371.6 million as of the end of the half year.
Looking Ahead
In terms of its future outlook, it noted that while September continued a return to profitability for the group, October is proving more challenging due to further on-trade restrictions being implemented.
It said that the near-term outlook for the on-trade sector remains uncertain, but the off-trade channel is continuing to perform strongly, 'continuing to benefit from a temporary shift in consumption dynamics'.
"We expect to see reduced volumes in the on-trade continue for the near term partially offset by increases in the off-trade," said Gilliland. "We are adapting to this temporary change in consumption dynamics and whilst it will invariably reduce short term profitability, we fundamentally believe in the medium and long term outlook for the on-trade channel. The scale, reach and customer focus of the Group’s brand-led distribution model should, in time, enable us to translate any improvement within this channel into superior profitability.
"We remain confident in the inherent strength of our local brands, our unparalleled route to market and the medium to long term prospects for C&C.”
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